19‑year‑old drunk driver crashes gifted MINI Cooper near Kochi airport, killing three

A 19‑year‑old driver, Suhail Sajeev, crashed a MINI Cooper near Kochi airport on Sunday, killing three 21‑year‑old part‑time workers. The car, a two‑door hatchback priced between Rs 44 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, had been presented to Sajeev as a birthday gift by his mother, who runs a design studio with offices in Kochi and Alappuzha. A video posted by the mother shows her announcing the gift in Malayalam and the son hugging her, while she calls him a bodybuilder. Police say Sajeev had been drinking at two bars and was on his way to a third when he took the wheel. Evidence from bar CCTV and a confession confirm he was drunk. He was allegedly speeding at 125 km per hour, having earlier been recorded at 218 km per hour in a separate incident. Three young people – a man and two women, all 21 – had stepped out for a tea break from a nearby showroom. Minutes later the MINI ran over their scooter, dragging it for over 100 metres before the victims died on the spot. Sajeev reportedly told locals his father would “handle” the matter, though some reports attribute the comment to his friend Ninav, also 19, who fled with him. Sajeev, Ninav, Ameer and Joyal have been arrested and charged with abetting drunk driving. The victims’ families, including Devika’s relative Sandeep, are demanding a charge of culpable homicide instead of “death caused by negligence,” upset that Sajeev was sent to a youth detention centre rather than prison.

Context

This crash adds to a string of high‑profile accidents in India involving young drivers, expensive cars and alcohol, such as the May 2024 Pune Porsche crash that also left two dead. Public anger reflects growing concerns over reckless driving and the legal handling of such cases.